Gemotions

The morning sun cast long shadows across the empty cubicle farm. He stared at the whiteboard, a monument to the tasks and projects he'd overseen. The replacement, a young man named Alex, was asking questions, his voice eager and full of energy. A deep feeling settled in her heart.

She pointed to the flow chart, the intricate diagrams seemed to look foreign. She felt an unexpected tightness in her throat. Each answer she gave seemed to chip away at something inside of her, leaving her feeling hollow.

“Any other questions?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. Alex shook his head, already engrossed in the next task. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the other man.